Venting bung



Patented May 2, 1933 JOSEPH C. KUFE'INE, 0F NE'WARK, NEYV VENTING BUNG Application filed March 3,

This invention relates to bungs, and has particular reference to a venting bung` designed to tit the bung hole of a container in which wine or other liquids are contained which are in the course of fermentation, in order to relieve the container of pressure developed therein by the fermentation process.

The invention contemplates among its objects the provision of a venting bung providf' ed with means which admits of the relief of means swingingly supported by the upper end of the bung and cooperating with the upper end of the passage to normally close the said valve means being so mounted as 'to permit of its disposition in an out-of the-way position when it is desired to introduce substances through the passage.

Other ebjects reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the bung, the ec(` romy with which it may be produced and th` general eiiiciency derived therefrom.

lilith the above recited and other objects in View, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims deiine the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a bung constructed in accordance with the invention.

vpassage 8 extending completely therethrough 1931. serial No. :519,876.

anda bushing 9, preferably of metal, isrecess-ed in the upper end of the body and has a bore 10 coinciding with the axial passage 8. A split lband 11is clamped around the periphery of the body 5 and is disposed flush with 55 the upper end thereof. In practice, the split band is preferably recessed within the countersunk peripheral portion 12 of the body, and said band is formed with outwardly directed ends 13 lhaving reversely bent extremities disposed parallel toand in flat contact with 'the ends 13 to define substantially parallel apertured ears Vfor receiving there# througha bolt 15 `having a head 16 at one end and a nut 1? at the opposite end to accomplish the clamping of the band around the body 5. The extremities 14 may be formed at their free `ends with circumferentially extending terminals '18 which are disposed in contact with the band and serveto reinforce the ears at t ieir juncture with the band. At a point diametrically opposite the ears, the band is provided with an upstandingV strap 19, the upper end of which is reduced and formed into a pintleroll 20. i An arm 21 is `provided 70' at :one of its ends with spaced pintlerolls 22 which straddle the pintle roll and `which receive, together with .the pintle roll 20, a hinge pintle 23 whereby the arm is fulcrumed for swinging movement. 80'

lin order to close the upper end of the axial passage 8, a valve 25 is loosely carried by the arm intermediate its end so that the same has a limited vrelative movement with respect to the arm. As illustrated, the valve 25 is attached to the arm by meansof a headed screw 26 which extends 'loosely'through an aperture 27 in the arm 21 and is anchored in the valve. The valve is preferably formed with a semi-spherical or equivalent shaped lowerV end V28,v wherebyit eiiectually seats against the bushing'Q 'by gravity when the bung is arranged in its usual uprigat position. I In order to provide means which permits of the use of the bung in any position and at the sa; 'ie time to serve as a yieldable securing means for holding the valvein seated condition, coiled contractile spring 30 is provided, the lower extremity of which is formed into an eye 31 engaged over the boltfshank 15 and the upper end of which spring is formed into an eye 32 which is adapted for engagement over the upturned reduced extremity 33 of the arm 31.

In use, when the bung is arranged Within the bung hole of a container and is disposed in a vertical position as illustrated in Figure l, tie spring may be disengaged from the extremity of the arm 2l and the Weight of the valve 25 and the arm Will serve to permit gravitational seating of the valve. As internal pressure develops Within the container, it is obvious that this pressure will be relieved periodically by lifting the valve and valve arm to permit of the escape of the pressure Without allowing air or foreign matter to enter through the passage 8.- lt is also apparent that when necessary, Water or other substances may be introduced Without removing the bung, by lifting or lswinging the valve arm and valve to an out-of-the-Way position. After the development of internal pressure is retarded, the spring-may be engaged With the arm, it being evident that excessive pressure will be relieved by lifting of the valve against the action of the spring. If it is desired to use the bung in other than a substantially vertical position, the spring 30 may be engaged with the arm to hold the valve in seated relation.

It will be observed that the band 11 and bushing 9, in addition to performing their other function, serve in the capacity of means for reinforcing the upper end of the bung to increase its resistance against impact When hammering the same into a bung hole.

Vhile there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that variations and modifications which fall Withinthe scope of the same may be resorted to when desired.

- What is claimed is:

Y l. A venting bung including a body having an axial passage extending completely therethrough, a split band surrounding the upper end of the bung body, an arm fulcrumed to said band and a valve rockably carried by the arm for movement bodily therewith to and from a seated relation to the upper end of the passage.

2. Avventing bung including a body having an axial passage extending completely therethrough, a bushing recessed in the up- -per end of the body having a bore coinciding With the passage a split band surrounding the upper end of the bung` body,`an arm fulcrumed toy the band and a valve roclrably carriedA by the arm for movement bodily SVtherewith and for relative movement to and from a seated relation to the bushing.

3. In a venting bung., a bung body having an axial passage, an internal bushing at the upper outlet end of the passage, a split band clampingly surrounding the upper end of the band having outwardly projecting spaced parallel ears, means extending therethrough for clamping the band in position and contractile means supported by said clamping ,l

means and detachably engaged with the free end of the arm for yieldably holding said arm in a normal position to seat the valve.

JOSEPH C. KUEHNE. 

